Already Received Booster Shot... "Frequent Additional Vaccinations May Actually Lower Immunity"

Fourth Dose Rollout Begins in Israel and Other Countries
European Medicines Agency: "Increase Additional Vaccinations and Get Vaccinated Ahead of Cold Season Like Flu"

As some countries have begun administering the fourth dose, concerns have been raised that frequent additional vaccinations may burden the immune system. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] As some countries, including Israel, have started the 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccination for immunocompromised individuals, concerns have been raised that frequent COVID-19 vaccinations may instead burden the immune system.

According to Bloomberg on the 11th (local time), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), an agency under the European Union (EU), warned that repeatedly administering additional COVID-19 vaccine doses every four months could eventually weaken immunity. The EMA also explained that it is necessary to extend the interval between booster shots and to administer vaccines ahead of the cold season, similar to the flu vaccine.

Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccine strategy at the EMA, said in a press briefing that day, "It is possible to give one or two additional COVID-19 vaccine doses, but I do not think it is feasible to continue administering them repeatedly," adding, "We need to think about how to transition the current pandemic situation into an endemic."

Warnings about additional doses have also been issued in Israel, where the 4th dose is already being administered. The Israeli Vaccine Advisory Committee, composed of experts, recommended the 4th dose for those aged 60 and over and immunocompromised individuals at the end of December last year, but the Ministry of Health withheld approval, citing insufficient data. At that time, some scientists expressed concerns that multiple vaccinations could increase immune system fatigue and impair the body's ability to fight the coronavirus.

Professor Eyal Leshem of Sheba Medical Center, a prominent infectious disease expert in Israel, also argued that two doses of the vaccine plus one additional booster are sufficient for effective prevention.

Currently, Israel is administering the 4th dose mainly to high-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and healthcare workers. Denmark also decided to start the 4th dose vaccination for vulnerable groups on the 12th (local time) after the number of COVID-19 Omicron variant infections reached a record high.